Has anyone ever tried/ made dishes with edible flowers?

Question

I have seen them in some dishes and desserts, and they just look so darn pretty.

If you have tried them:
Are they expensive?
Can you find them in stores (if so, where)?
And do they actually taste good, or are they simply edible?

Thanks
:)

Answer 1

I have a farmer friend who puts together an organic field greens lettuce blend that he adds marigolds, pansies, violets and some other flowers too. The violets and pansies taste pretty good, the marigolds are more bitter, but when it's all mixed in with the greens you don't really notice. I really enjoy it and it is sooo pretty. I've also seen petals added to cakes and muffins, used as drink garnishes and frozen into ice cubes (cool party idea!)

I think your best bet for finding edible flowers is a farmer's market or just growing them yourself. Or if you're really lucky you might an organic florist in your area that you could go to. (do not get get flowers you intend to eat from a regular florist, their flowers typically are doused with massive quanities of pesticides :P )

I found a list of edible flowers and their flavors that should help you figure which ones may appeal to you.

http://homecooking.about.com/library/weekly/blflowers.htm

Here's a couple links to where you can buy them online...
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000TL6CW/ref%3Dnosim/thenibble-20/002-0378029-4099243
http://www.seabreezed.com/
http://langfordfoods.com/

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

We ordered them through our produce company when I worked in restaurants. They are fairly expensive as far as a garnish goes, unless you look at them and say... wow that dish would just not be the same without that flower.

They are simply edible. Some have very little taste and some are pretty bitter. They are basically just to be pretty.

Answer 3

My favorite edible flower is the nasturtium. They are beautiful in the salad and come in a variety of colors ranging from yellow to orange to red. And, they taste good, too.
Rose petals are also nice. You can make a rose petal jam for your toast if you want to try something special.

Answer 4

I ate sugared flowers that were used for decorating a wedding cake, the delicate flavor of the flower was lost in the sweetness of the sugar, but the looked beautiful.
Some people use real ones and sugar them over really carefully. I guess they are expensive, hope the link helps.

Answer 5

I've had a few, but the one I remember has pale yellow strips of a flower. Sorry I can't remember any further details aside from it being in a Chinese soup. The flowers tasted really good. It was a Chinese flower soup.

Answer 6

I like the way marigolds taste in a spinach salad. I also like to dry rose petals and mix them with Earl Grey for a more fragrant tea. If possible I would try to grow them myself. Roses are tricky (for me) but marigolds will grow easily in the ground or in a pot, and they are a natural insect repellent.

Answer 7

Fried zucchini blossoms. Pick fresh zucchini blossoms from the male plant. Dip in beer batter (flour, eggs, yeast, beer). Deep fry in oil (350 to 375 degrees F). They taste wonderful.

Answer 8

Some wedding cakes utilizes roses or violets which are edible. Also salads with violets.

Answer 9

I have used violets and rose petals (tea, jelly), squash and lily flowers (fried), nasturtiums and wild sorrel (in salads). Also have made dandelion and elderberry blossoms into wine. I grew or gathered these wild. To me they are flavorful as well as adding color and texture.

Answer 10

ohh at my cousins wedding they had like flowers w/ sugar on 'em
they were tastyy
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